Monday, May 16, 2011

1901's For Your 911

I'm not sure about you, but I cooled off on boat shoes once my grandma started wearing Sperry Topsiders.  Just kidding.  But seriously, has anyone else been looking for boat shoe alternatives?  Or, non-sneaker options for casual S/S footwear?  If you answered "yes" to either of those questions then you probably want to keep reading.  If you answered "no", let me congratulate you on having Wi-Fi on your yacht before you close your screen.  Okay, moving on.  I don't do too much driving these days (unfortunately, as Shawn said, I also "don't do too much bloggin"), but that didn't stop me from trying to track down a new pair of driving mocs as one of those S/S alternates I mentioned above.  I'll be the first to admit that making the argument against city dwellers wearing driving mocs is warranted.  Basically, most driving shoes cannot handle everyday wear.  Those little rubber nubs that grace the sole wear out quick if you're main mode of transportation is of the bipedal nature.  So, said argument is warranted, but also thin because driving shoes, especially a suede moc toe version, look damn good and anyone should be able to wear them if they see fit.  Where does that leave us?  For most of us, that eliminates Tod's because they are too expensive of an option for those who don't drive and don't drive something that gets you laid.  Minnetonka charges beater prices, but they still have those damn nubs, so price per wear is a little iffy.  Somewhere in between these two options happens to be Nordstrom's in house 1901 driving loafer.  These suede beauties actually have a full layer of rubber between the the upper and the rubber nubs, which translates to a longer shoe life.  I recently grabbed a pair and have been really happy with them.  They are the perfect errand shoe and require not a single sock investment.  Sand suede was my ticket, but there are a bunch of options for my more adventurous readers.  They run true to size (assuming you are ditching socks) and have a more aggressive toe shape that recalls European brands four times as expensive.

-L.A.S

35 comments:

  1. Great recommendation LAS, thanks for sharing.

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  2. Minnetonka's wear well, but leave their cheap dye on your socks and feet. I've had a pair for a year and a half so the price per wear is in the cents. Though, seriously, don't wear nice socks with them.

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  3. Beautiful shoe. It's all about the chocolate suede though.

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  4. Ah, you had me so excited with the beginning of your article... Driving mocs are just not my thing. Any other options?

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  5. I love Belgian shoes for my knockarounds.

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  6. I saw these McNairy moccasins recently:

    http://www.endclothing.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/index/?q=weejun&x=0&y=0

    Might be a good boat shoe alternative.

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  7. I have that same exact pair and I love them, I don't wear them too much though.


    AnUnrefinedGentleman.Blogspot.com

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  8. I've worn my Tod's HEAVILY for about 6 years....when the initial nubbed sole wears down, I take them to a cobbler and get flat sole thrown on for about $50....something that could make the investment last a bit longer. I've had my oldest pair re-soled 3 times now and they still look great.

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  9. was also recently looking for a boat alt. just ordered a pair of tan arrow two eye tie mocs, crepe sole (shown in black): http://www.flickr.com/photos/protec/4584136707/

    it was a hard decision, as the canoe mocs look great too:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/protec/4584765462/

    dude is super nice, takes 6-7 weeks to reach your doorstep.

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  10. Ah, fashion. Always in search of the next trend before it plays itself out. If boat shoes are only "authentic" as long as their wearers actually partake in some sort of maritime activity, why wouldn't the same logic apply to driving mocs? Anywho, if what you want is a moccassin constructed shoe for casual wear that doesn't paint you as some kind of poseur, there are plenty of choices. Bean bluchers, camp mocs, canoe mocs, boat shoes with lug soles are all traditional footwear options that can be had in any price range. Or, just get your boat shoes resoled with a camp sole if you can't bear the embarrassment anymore.

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  11. i've been looking for the exact same type of shoes. i've come across these ferragamo's from a few seasons ago, they're all over ebay. leather soled.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/NIB-SALVATORE-FERRAGAMO-BEIGE-GELO-LOAFERS-SHOES-SZ-11-/260741836847?pt=US_Men_s_Shoes&hash=item3cb56cb02f#ht_710wt_907

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  12. My beaters are H&M Fake Tod's, 25 euros. http://i54.tinypic.com/i4lpxf.jpg


    Using C&J for proper loafering needs though

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  13. My summer casual go-to is the Moai slip on by El Naturalista. It's a little more bulky and casual than a driver but very comfortable, especially for a bigger guy in need of a little more cushion. Works well with jeans and linens and shorts.

    http://www.elnaturalista.com/index.php/en/online-shop/all-products/moai/N241/nm241-pull-grain-cuero-moai/?show=lateral

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  14. I just received a pair of the 1901 driving loafer in mustard yellow, and I'm in love. I have a pair of Tod's that I found brand new (no wear on the soles whatsoever) for less than fifty bucks—and they're great. I will say that these Nordstrom shoes are much more comfortable. The footbed is padded a bit more and they just feel… softer. I'll be ordering the indigo pair tomorrow. I originally heard about them on this blog a while back but didn't pull the trigger until I saw selected colors on sale for $49.95, a total steal.

    Thanks for the recommendation, LAS. These shoes are fantastic.

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  15. That shoes is so fashionable and trendy. Love the design so much.

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